Part 39 (1/2)

”There's only one thing he can do, as near as I can figure,” Gregory answered ”And that's to come down the harbor channel and hit us from the stern If he does that,” he added quickly, ”we'll have to be careful not to block the sea-way leading into the harbor My idea is to o out with the wind and sea through the north channel”

”That's our best bet, unless it's a nor'wester,” she agreed ”We've got to keep a way out clear or Mascola will crowd us on the rocks”

The captains of the fishi+ng-boats reported their craft to be better than half laden when the _Richard_ arrived alongside The fish were still running strong In another hour, without interference, they ory's direction the albacore fisher toward the north channel

The next thing to do was to marshal the fleet to withstand Mascola's attack fro to the extreme wideness of the ay, the Italian's boats would now have a better chance The V must be broadened by the boats hitherto held in reserve Theysea, added to Gregory's inexperience in handling the speed-boat, rendered the mobilization of the cannery fleet not only slow, but extremely hazardous as well

Before his left end defense was co down upon his center

CHAPTER XXIV

A FIGHTING CHANCE

Mascola's boats advanced warily, spreading out and covering off the defending fleet as they caht in the darkness

Head-on, the opposing fleets collided with a crash which twisted their keels and racked their tiether and beca embrace The alien crearmed to the decks and leaped across the rail upon the Aed forward to meet them Fists flashed in the darkness

Men ht was filled ild cries, the tra wood and fleshht which dispelled the dark shadows cast athwart the vessels and brought into bold relief the struggling figures of the men who battled on the decks

”Fire!”

The cry was taken up by every throat and echoed down the line It ca where he had been directing the defense of his weakened quarter, by a counter-flanking ht in the center of his fleet! When the tank exploded hundreds of gallons of burning distillate would flood the waters But he dared not think that far Whirling the _Richard_ about, and circling behind his line of boats he dashed away to face the new peril

The crew of the _Florence_ abandoned the attack at the first cry and surged to the hold to fight the conflagration A gasoline stove, carelessly left burning by one of that vessel's drunken crew, had been overturned by the shock of collision, and had fired the bilge Fanned by the rising winds, the fla rapidly toward the tanks in the bow

The alien crew of the _Florence_ fled in a panic of fear Leaping to the rail they flung the craft which was already backing away from the ill-fated vessel Fro fishi+ng craft For the tiave place to the rasp of reverse levers, hoarse cries of warning and the labored chug of heavy-dutycleared space about the ill-fated derelict the lurid waters were churned into a roseate foa of the heavy propellers of the fishi+ng craft as their erous area

As the _Richard_ sped on in the direction of the ever-brightening glare, Gregory's h-speedvessel clear of the fleet before the tanks exploded

Dodging arazed the _Curlew's_ hull and plunged into the open space Warning cries sounded above the roar of the flames but he did not hear them His plan, formed on the instant, must be put into execution at once If it failed, the speed of the _Richard_ would carry dickie to a place of safety It was a fighting chance That was all

Swinging the _Richard_ about, he drove straight for the _Florence_

”Take the wheel, and stand by,” he cried to the girl ”If the tank goes, run”

He leaped fro hull and dickie found herself gripping the big steering wheel before she could utter a protest Gregory was already in the stern of the _Richard_

Grasping the stern-anchor chain of the speed-launch, he caught the wire-stays of the _Florence_ and pulled hi the chain after hi his face with his ar the _Richard's_ stern close to the _Florence's_ bow, dickie Lang saw Gregory running across the deck Saw his reeling figure silhouetted against the white glare of the blazing cabin-house Heard the rattle of the heavy anchor chain of the alien fishi+ng-boat Keeping the _Richard_ in place with an effort against the wind and chop, she waited He expected her to stand by